the old salt road

Difficulty

Time

Departure

Arriving

Resources

Il percorso

Download the gps track to bring it to your mobile device and open it with an app for file .kmz (for example gpx viewer)

The salt routes were a plot of mule tracks for transporting salt from the Ligurian ports to the hinterland and north from Varzi-Pavia retracing the proposed trails. In addition, the great news is that from 2017, the Liguria region has allocated funding to improve part of the journey and equip with new signage and the Via del Mare and help the Park of Portofino and Il Parco dell 'Antola the two managing bodies that with the help of the FIE and the CAI of RAPALLO (operative part) they have really changed the face of the path, in fact there is no more need for hiking guides, and you can do it in total safety also because each stop point is equipped with Refuges or B & Bs that welcome hikers (max every 6-8 hours of walking), and the path is all marked, the trail VIA THE SALT in Lombardy and Via del Mare (VM) in Liguria, so do not worry, the path is the same takes you to the sea, passing through Uscio of course! and that the sea is the best because you take a bath at the Park of Portofino (Camogli-Punta Chiappa-San Fruttuoso) with observation of many fish in the Ligurian sea in this very deep area, in fact many sport like swim ,snorkeling and diving.

Giorno 1Varzi - Capannette di Pey

The departure of the "classic" way is in the heart of the town of Varzi, in the province of Pavia. From the car park overlooking the Staffora, follow the signs towards the bridge, then the path on the left. A wide path, first level, then of variable slope, will take you to Monteforte and then to Castellaro, periodically intersecting the asphalted provincial road and the local cart. At the end of the village, continue along a wide dirt road surrounded by woods until you meet the border between Lombardy and Piedmont. On the border line we continue on the ridge that will accompany us until 1700m of Mount Chiappo, where at the bar / shelter it is possible to have a rest before the descent to the Capanna di Cosola where the first stage ends with the overnight stay.

Giorno 2
CAPANNETTE DI PEY - Torriglia

The second day of walking begins along another border: the one between Piedmont and Emilia, initially slightly downhill, first in a wooded area, then on the ridge overlooking the pastures below in a southerly direction. Once you have passed Monte Cavallaro, and the Carmo, the trail continues on the separation line between Liguria and Piedmont in the Antola park. When you reach the top of the mountain, after a stop at the homonymous mountain hut CAI, continue steeply downhill towards Donetta and then Torriglia, where you can stay overnight.

Recommended in Torriglia, in the village the Mulino del Lupo, a beautiful place where there is the possibility of horse riding excursions, while the B & B Villa Tiffany is for a stay right on the beautiful lake of Brugneto, heart of the Antola Park, more romantic!

Giorno 3Torriglia - Uscio

On the third day, after walking along the provincial road exiting from Torriglia, pass the Boffalora tunnel towards Monte Lavagnola on the right. When you are on the hill of Monte Lavagnola, you must go to the RIGHT towards the Scoffera pass and always follow the AVML path marked with the initials AVML, when the path forks, take on the left the one marked as VM (Via del Mare), always the blue signs (two blue dots on the stones) up to the asphalt road.Follow the VM until Sant 'Allberto di Bargagli and, at the ROSABRUNA restaurant, follow the path marked with the new wooden VM signs MonteBado -CASE BECCO, take Case Becco

not PANNESI OFFICIAL TRAIL VM is CASE BECCO, and when you arrive at Case Becco,you will see wonderful panorama, all seaview Pannesi is not the correct path (sign with X) go into the internal and will not be managed by CAI e FIE that clean only the official Path

Case Becco above USCIO

Once in Case Becco (asphalted road with few cars) you walk left for 5 km to Colle Caprile from where you take the path 00 that you find going left, well signposted with the sign VM and from here to the Passo Casetti just above Uscio.go down on this beautiful path and after 15 minutes you have arrived in Uscio, take the asphalt road to the right and always follow the trail signs (3 red balls) that will lead you in 5 min to the B & B Rif.Uscio.

Giorno 4Uscio - Punta Chiappa

When you go out fro the Rifugio, youfollow the signpost 3 red dots and the VM signs right at the exit from the B & B Rif.Uscio. Follow all the new trail signs, arrive at the Colonia Arnaldi, continue and always follow the VM signs and arrive at the Pass Spinarola, From Passo Spinarola, new signage of the Portofino Park with signs and new trail signs! (thanks Ente Parco di Portofino!) Always Staying on our track, the path VM winds through the woods and you reach the Passo del Gallo, from where you can see the two gulfs: Rapallo on the left and on the right Recco. The path continues without any problem, it is easy and well marked up to the junction that separates the road to Ruta VM from the one to Recco. (A triangle)Shortly after you arrive on the asphalt road and take a right to reach Ruta. If you want to continue the VM path, go up towards the church of RUTA and enter the Parco di Portofino.

From there to the summit of Monte di Portofino. Then easily descend to Pietre Strette and then to Portofino or San Fruttuoso, or Punta Chiappa where the clear water of the Park will welcome you for a refreshing dip in the deep blue.